Pennsylvania Hospital is committed to serving others by providing high-quality, compassionate care and creating a positive experience for patients and their families. To ensure that traveling from a primary care physician in Cherry Hill, to a specialist at PAH, to a trial at HUP doesn’t result in a different experience, the health system recently united in pursuing these goals under the new “BE Standards.”
“We needed to create a consistent definition for the Penn Medicine Experience. We worked with 200 faculty, staff, patients, and family members to identify five key areas. It’s all about mastering the basics and highlighting the good that we do,” said Craig Loundas, PhD, associate vice president of the Penn Medicine Experience. “For PAH’s campaign, we also maintained a level of individuality by adapting the brand to ‘T.I.P.S. to BE.’”
Mixing in T.I.P.S. is not the only way PAH kicks the BE Standards up a notch. As the standards have been rolled out, it has become clear that while they provide a framework for ensuring excellent patient care, they also capture how PAH’s staff serve outside of the hospital.
They are compassionate when reaching out to others and offer their time and expertise, present when engaging with community members to better understand their needs, empowered when taking the initiative to organize innovative outreach projects and round up volunteers, collaborative when working together and with community leaders to ensure success, and accountable when following through on goals and working toward sustainable change.
BE-ing an active participant in communities near and far is fundamental to PAH’s mission and culture, whether staff are promoting awareness, fundraising, or volunteering their time.
Bike MS: City to Shore Ride
For 13 years, PAH’s Dan Wilson, MBA, BSN, RN, FABC, vice president of Allied Health and Ambulatory Services, has served as the captain for the UPHS/PENN Bike MS: City to Shore Ride cycling team. This annual two-day event has routes ranging from 25 to 180 miles, and all fundraising supports the multiple sclerosis research efforts of the National MS Society, a longstanding Penn partner.
As the result of Wilson’s leadership and the generosity of the yearly participants, the UPHS/PENN team became the first in the ride’s history to raise a cumulative $2 million dollars. Last year’s 375 riders also broke our fundraising record and continued the winning streak for awards such as Largest Corporate Team and Top Fundraising Team. This year, Wilson is pushing those goals even further: 400 riders and $275,000.
“It’s rewarding to get such a great response to this event every year. Participating in this ride is a way of giving back to the community and supporting the fight against MS. It’s an amazing day of bonding and good will, all for a great cause,” Wilson said.
Penn’s Way
Running from September through November, the annual Penn’s Way charitable giving campaign – held in partnership with the university, United Way, and the Philadelphia Alliance for Change – encourages staff throughout the health system to support vulnerable populations by contributing to a cause they’re passionate about.
PAH is proud to achieve some of the highest participation and donation rates, with staff enthusiastically donating to a range of health, education, and community development organizations each year. PAH leadership also designates an “in-house” cause or unit for designations, with Hall-Mercer Community Behavioral Health Center chosen as last year’s recipient.
Last year, the Penn’s Way campaign hit more than $1,820,000 in total staff contributions. The members of PAH’s committee – led by Dan Feinberg, MD, chief medical officer, and Eileen Murphy, MSL, director of Patient and Guest Relations and Volunteer Services – hope to keep up the momentum by aiming for hospital – wide goals of $100,000 and 90 percent participation.
“From the committee coordinating PAH’s efforts, to the department captains boosting engagement, to the staff who make the decision to participate – everyone plays a part in making Penn’s Way successful,” Feinberg said. “There’s no such thing as not giving enough. If every staff member gave a dollar per pay period, we’d hit our financial goal! Anything will help make a meaningful difference in the community.”
Stay tuned for more information about raffles and other celebratory activities as PAH ramps up the spirit of giving.
Philadelphia Heart Walk
PAH is also gearing up for the 2018 Philadelphia Heart Walk on Saturday, October 27. Sponsored by the American Heart Association, this annual 5K walk and festival highlights the prevalence of heart disease and stroke (the nation’s #1 and #5 killers) in the United States, and celebrates taking steps towards healthy living.
Last year, over 400 PAH Heart Walkers (a quarter of all UPHS participants!) smashed the hospital’s participation and fundraising records, and leaders Jeff O'Neill, AIA, ACHA, CHFM, senior director of Facilities, and Marco Georeno, MBA, associate director of Allied Health and Ambulatory Services & Behavioral Health, are excited to do it again this year with a $35,000 fundraising goal.
“In honor of the Philadelphia Heart Walk’s 20th year, we hope to have the most participation yet,” O’Neill said. “All coaches who create a team with at least ten participants and raise a minimum of $1,000 will be inducted into the new Heart Walk Leadership Society and recognized with a personalized plaque! We’re also rolling out a Heart Walk Grand Club open to all participants. Everyone who personally raises $1,000 will also be recognized with a plaque.”
Stay tuned for more information about the kickoff activities leading up to the walk, such as Penn Medicine Day at the Phillies and PAH’s second annual Heart Walk Ball and Auction. To join a team and support the AHA’s goal of improving the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent by 2020, visit https://bit.ly/2vBunDo.